DIEP 2013
Comments
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Mrtw, 😄
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MRTW - yeah!
Lahela - I had an area at the center for my ab incision about 3/4" long that took 11 weeks to finish healing. -
I finally got to sleep last night after a rough day, and I also had bizarre dreams. My sister and I were "babysitting" the wrapped-up body of an old, old lady, and when we went to check on it, the lady was alive and kicking, had wiggled out of the wrappings, and was insisting on a hot bath. Go figure that one out, Sigmund!
I'm seriously considering joining a clinical trial for breast cancer that involves a double-blinded administration of metformin, along with exercise and diet coaching, for weight loss. Their research premise is to draw blood levels of a bunch of markers--estrogen, glucose, inflammation markers, tumor markers, etc., and see how they behave in the presence of a healthy diet and weight loss, along with (or without) metformin. My BMI is high enough to qualify, and I told the researcher that I already eat well and exercise a lot, and she said that's fine. Anybody have any experience with metformin?
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Sbe, I take Metformin for diabetes. I have had no se's.
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I do Sbel! I missed the "metformin trial" that was happening here while I was in treatment. It doesn't sound like the same trial....or not the same stage, anyway.To qualify for the one here last year you had to be within a year of dx and I was 14 months or something. So talked to my mo and she agreed to put me on it off label anyway, based on the promising results they thought the study was showing at the time. Initially I had diarrhea, which is a side effect, but I stuck with it and it's infrequent now. Other than that no worries. Ok, wait, one worry....it makes every health care professional under the sun think you have diabetes! Twice in the hospital since I've been on it...twice had to adamantly refuse having a poke for blood sugar test since someone wrote the order for it based on my med list. There is a fair amount of "'splaining to do, Lucy!"
They put me on twice a day but I split my am dose and take 1/2 with bfast and 1/2 with lunch and a whole at dinner. Seemed to help with the diarrhea doing it that way. I wonder if your trial is here...I will check. Interesting! I truly think they are on to something with their hypothesis and I consider it just as important as the Femara. -
((((Sbe))) that dream cracked me up and scared me!!!! Maybe your never too old fir a hot bath?!
HOLY SNEEZED my foobs off!!!! I sneezed for the first x and my lungs hurt and my breast felt like they were coming off!!! Hope theses allergies don't get bad:(
Gonna go to bed and hopeful sleep the night away?! -
Hi its Anne,
recuperating ...will feel better when the drains are out on Thurs
thank you all for your support
hugs
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2timer glad you are doing so well!
I appreciate the concern about the laser hair removal. My PS assured me that it is 100% fine, they do it all the time at her hospital post-DIEP and if I were willing to drive up there for it, they gal that does it does not charge, she does it as a service to breast cancer survivors. Anyway I went today and most of the hair is too light for laser removal. Apparently it does not work on blonde, grey or white hair. The area that bothers me the most is on the edge of my noob. I am pretty sure it is the line of hair that used to go from my belly button down to my pubic area. Some of it is blonde and some of the hairs were darker. So we lasered that area only. The gal said in about 2ish weeks, the dark hairs will "shed." She wants me to come back in 7-8 weeks for another treatment. I guess I can live with the hair if the darker ones are gone. It was very quick and easy. She told me to watch for the area to look a little sunburned possibly by evening, but it looks totally fine. *phew* Fastest $70 I ever spent but having those hairs on my nice new boob was making me crazy.
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Ssla.......thinking of you! Hope all is well!
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Hi again! I have been catching up on the entries for a few days and there have been several topics that relate to me that I wanted to respond to...
Wounds that won't heal, or wound dehiscence...my PS says this a very common occurrence that happens to 30% of DIEP patients. Anyway, I have put this out there before, but thought this may be helpful to recent inquiries. My DIEP was on June10, and by my 2nd post op appt, I had abdominal incisions that split about 5" on one side and 3" on the other, 1" to 2" deep. After wet to dry dressings and the VAC for 3+ weeks, I was re-stiched on my 2nd surgery on August 10. 3 days later my wounds opened up again, gradually to 3" on one side, 2" on the other, at least an inch deep. We thought we could handle it wet to dry but there was tunneling underneath and wounds were opening larger. Therefore, on Aug 22nd went back on the VAC So, 3 months later, 6 weeks on the VAC and 4 weeks of wet to dry, I am going in Thursday to re-stich. Anger, fear, confusion, sad, impatient, why???, soreness, pain, horrified - I think I have felt many of the feelings you may be feeling now. Just so you know, you aren't alone - whether your wounds are worse or less brutal, hang in there because we will heal. The human body is made to heal. Patience...
Stages - my PS doesn't plan or refer to surgeries as stages. Of course there will be a nipple reconstruction (has been) and tattooing, but he didn't refer to these surgeries as stages. He did, however, say that we can do as many procedures as necessary to make me happy
As used up as I am now no surgeries anytime soon, but I do think I may have some small implants or some type of lift in the future since my bloobs have the volume, but not necessarily the shape I envisioned before this whole debacle began. Also, as opposed to some others, I haven't had any compression garments at all...none. He doesn't do any fat grafting or lipo. I am going to give my body a rest, lose some weight and see how things go. I was so mortified after my nipples were added, but now that they have settled, I think he did a mighty fine job. Patience...Excersicise - frustrating as hell to me too. The most I have gotten to is walking around my block. Finally up to 1 1/2 miles last night. But I have been up, down, hunching, not hunching, on limitations, off limitations and STILL in my recliner. I read how everyone is hiking, biking, running, etc. and it does make me jealous. I realize that everyone's experiences and time lines are different, so I have made sure to look at dates and specifics and try not to compare too much. Patience...
I have finally realized that I have been up against so much in the last 11 months: Diagnosis, bilateral mast with lymph node removal, chemo, DIEP, complications, tamoxifen, induced menopause. I have been so hard on myself to want to heal, to get back into living my life, feeling guilty for not carrying my weight with family, and hating the weight I've gained lol (40 Lbs.) I have less than an inch of hair, mini eye lashes, un-even eyebrows, fat, and more fat, no clothes that fit. As much as I have made myself see the bright side, or rather realistic side, I am scared to go back to life like this. I am slowly beginning to find peace with my DIEP decision, and actually SEE the results settling in, and glad I took this route - but all of the other scares me. I don't know how I can walk back into my office like this and attend social events with large groups of friends. My self esteem is shot
Not so much patience here...how do I get through this? I plan on going back to work soon and my job is very client facing.OMG, I've written a novel, but thank you for listening. BUT...one more thing...I want to say to you ladies who have had MX, lymph node removal and DIEP within one surgery, at the same time, my hat off to you!!! That would take one strong woman to get through that - and there are clearly many here!!!
Laura
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Hello all, my mom, Colleen, was in surgery for 15.5 hours today. Everything went well but her vessels were smaller than anticipated so it took longer than expected to reconnect the fat tissue in her new breasts. They had to manipulate the vein in one breast quite a bit but it has been pumping for 3 hours now and it should be alright. If any issues are going to appen they will be tonight. The worst is now over and she is now resting in recovery. Thank you for all of your well wishes, prayers, thoughts and support along her journey. It was a long day but it's over, she is safe and she doesn't have to worry anymore. - Sasha
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La2shea, what an amazing post. I'm one of the ones with healing issues on one foob only. Although your pain came through loud and clear, overall your message is one of hope and conveys a positive approach.
All of us on these boards have had serious problems. My nightmare started 8 1/2 years ago with dx of bc. Two years later I needed arthroscopic surgery on my knee. Then 4 years ago a second dx of bc. And 5 months ago I had major back surgery. Now I am 4 weeks out of DIEP and worried that it won't take. To top it off, it seems that I have developed an allergic reaction to the tape being used to hold the bandages in place. I just noticed it tonight. I have a red rash and discomfort where the tape was.
And I feel I'm being shallow by complaining. Today a friend came home from work and found her husband dead. Don't think I'll be sleeping again tonight. -
Sasha, thank you for the update on your mom. How lucky she is to have you. Keep us posted. It sounds like everything went well, and she will be fine. I does my heart good to know her docs worked so hard to get her vessels connected.
She is in my prayers tonight.
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Thanks for the info, Bailey. I asked my MO once if she'd put me on metformin "off label" and she didn't want to do it. This trial sounds pretty cool--their goal is for their study subjects to lose 10% of their body weight in 6 months, and that would be a fun goal to shoot for. The big issue is that I'd need to drive 3 hours to San Diego, for a total of three trips in six months. That's really not too bad, and Jerry and I can make it our metformin date.
Tracy, the first time I sneezed after the DIEP I grabbed my foobs in panic, lest they pop off and fly around the room. It was quite a feeling!
La2shea, dear sister...you have been through so much, and you are naturally impatient for your body to heal, already, and be done with this damn rodeo. You are in a place where lots of us have been, even with smooth surgical recovery--chemo baldness, eyebrows and lashes thin, weight up from treatments, just feeling yuglie. You know it will get better, but TODAY, you're tired of it. I'm sorry. I've been there, and I'm telling you it will get better, but I'm sorry today is hard. And 1 1/2 miles!!! What an enormous accomplishment! We are SO PROUD OF YOU!
Sasha, thanks for the update on your mom. You and she are in our prayers for smooth and uneventful recovery.
Hrf, what a horrifying thing for your work friend! I'm so sorry! I hope she has beautiful memories that can be a balm to her ache tonight.
Good night, gloobsters. Tonight I'm going to dream about my baby Aubrey and I will wake up smiling. Katy
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hrf - I cannot even imagine what it would be like to go through so much over such an extended period of time. I've had tape issues too, especially in the wound areas since there are so many dressing changes. My home nurse ordred soft cloth surgical tape and skin prep barrier wipes that goes under tape and both have helped A LOT! I actually had blisters at one point from that super strong sticky tape that comes from the PS office. Hopefully this far along your DIEP is strong and your wound issue will be nothing but a pain in the ... that's what my PS called it. They all seem to act like it isn't a major concern and more of an inconvenience. I beg to differ...it's downright scary.
You are right, our problems are always less significant than some others. We can be there for them but I think we still need to deal with our own as well. I don't think you are shallow at all. I hope you get some restful sleep tonight and Wilbur fills your dreams (did I use that in the correct context??? lol)
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sasha...thank you for the news of your mom....Glad to hear she came through the surgery strong, sending her healing thoughts and positive outcomes for those vessels....Wilbur..please stand guard tonight.
hrf...so sorry to hear the news of your friends husband....just tragic. I hope she is surrounded by the love and support of family and friends at this tough time, and in the tough times ahead. Life does have a way of putting things in "perspective" doesn't it.
Hugs to all of us tonight, just a wee bit longer and more "meaningful" than usual. May we continue to find strength in ourselves, and in each other.
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Sasha - thanks so much for the update on your mum! Give her hand a gentle squeeze from us
hrf, la2shea, bluebird, sherry, faith, mammalou - sending healing, loving thoughts to you and everyone suffering today. -
My Flapper sisters.......
La2shea..your post made me cry...for you, for me, for all of us.....which of us hasn't had similar feelings?....so thankful for you wonderful, strong, and courageous women who wake up every morning, and somehow make it through the day.....Katy-there is an abundance of grace under fire, quiet courage, and hope in our DIEP 2013 thread......you could mine la2shea's comment above for a powerful opening statement on what it's like for a breast cancer patient.....
To ALL of you flappers suffering from slow-healing wounds...I send a (((hug))) you are in my thoughts every day.XO
CStrong-good to hear you made it to the other side.......15.5 hours.......I completely get it, and wish you a swift recovery.....(18 hours here.....same reason....small veins....low blood flow....). Gentle, post DIEP (((hugs)))
On a not so serious subject, I was bored today, so I re measured my sutures from stage 2.........20 total inches vs. 27" stage 1....... For a grand total of 47".......
Did I mention I intensely dislike compression of any kind???? Feeling claustrophobic, to put it mildly......![:\](https://breastcancer.vanilladevelopment.com/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
Nihahi, how's your noggin? Stay out of the water..........hiking with grizzlies seems safer!
I have not been sleeping all that well, so took a Trazodone again tonight....and I think I just saw Wilbur poke his head up over the edge of the bed.....def. a cue that I need to hit the sheets!
Love you ladies! You give me strength to make it through......XO -
Hrf......meant to add that sometimes our troubles really do pale in comparison, don't they? So very sorry for your friend......what a terrible thing to have to go through.....
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Laura- Beautifuly said! I have felt the same anc patience is the key indeed. MSome days thats easier than others for me.
Sasha- So glad to hear that your mom is doing well, speedy recovery to her!
Good luck to all of our new sisters and stage twoers :-)
I was drive bye girl scouted last night. Went to sign my DD up for a troop and I somehow wqlked out as the leader.???? It will help me transition back to being a part of the outside word so Im excited about that. Life is slowly returning to normal. -
Cstrong & Sasha - Thank you for posting on behalf of your mom. I'm really hoping that she had a good night and that today is all about resting. And you too. A 15 hour surgery is like a long nap for us DIEP gals, but for family it makes for a very long day. I hope today is calm for everyone. She's lucky to have you.
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Christina - a GF who was a PS nurse once told me that the way they laser blond or white hair is by dying it first. If you want to try again, a little Clairol and you should be good to go. Of course, it is quite a picture thinking of the hair color on the foob.
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Having coffee with Wilbur this morning. I woke up achy and stinging
I slept but I am super tired. Fever 98.8 but feel crappy;(
My daughter hates 9th grade. Has cried every day. It breaks my heart. She has mild CP and walks with a hip gate. But she is nice and pretty and I feel she has nothing to worry about! Ugh she is bullied but doesn't know alot of people. Hate this more then breast cancer!!! -
Tracy, my heart goes out to you daughter. As a past teacher, if you think your child is being bullied you need to report this to the counselors at her school. No one needs to know you did this.(even your daughter) Also, she may need counseling to learn how to deal with bullying behavior. I wish I had had that when I was in high school. It is a hard time of life anyways and that is just too much. As a mom we want to protect our children, but life can be difficult at times.
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Cherrie- the bully is an old friend. She only has her lunch but she laughs every time my daughter walks by. Could be coincidence but I don't think so! Grrr. I wish my daughter had confidence... My having cancer this summer really has brought her down .... I will report if it escalated!!!
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Tracy, bullying is serious and it is a power relationship. You should report it immediately because it WILL get worse. The bully will then make fun of or try to ostracize your daughter from others. The school has a duty to deal with this immediately. And it must be done in a way that ensures that the bully develops an understanding of the harm she is causing. Your daughter deserves to be in a learning environment where she feels safe and valued. The bully's mother also needs to be part of the solution.
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Good for you Sweet!!!! chuckling at the "driveby girl scouting"! Yup, another step away from "patient" mode. Good for you!!!!!!
Liefie....have a great time in SanFran with hubby....at least you should be able to stroll around without worrying about the bears and cougars! Have fun on the hills.....be good at the restaurants..!!!!! Take the time away from the thread and enjoy.
tracy....so sorry about your daughter's challenges at school....probably even more hurtful if the harassment is coming from a former friend. Girls of that age can be brutal towards each other....being part of the "in crowd" seems so important....(NOT!), but I bet that is what is the motivation behind the friend....she' trying to "fit in". Are you at all comfortable with speaking to the mother, if the girls used to be friends???? Gosh, it's a hard enough time of life. Hope coffee with Wilbur helped re-start your day in a better frame of mind.
sasha....hope mom (cstrong) came through the night ok, without any complications. The next couple days are the "what the hell did I do to myself" days.....then usually, things start to improve. Let her know we are all thinking of her.
So yesterday my new doc told me to try melatonin....I took the first one last night, but expect it to be awhile before I notice any effects re: sleep. Any comments ladies, on when you take it, what dosage you take, from your experiences???? She has me on 3mg, and told me to take it about 30 minutes before I go to bed. Nothing personal, but I would dearly love to resign from the "nightowl brigade"!!!!
sbe...bailey...I've never heard of taking the metformin for weightloss....isn't it a diabetic drug??? I understand that it regulates blood glucose levels....but wouldn't a healthy eating regime do the same? Or is the premise that it also has some regulatory factors on hormone levels??? I'd ask if the body would become dependent on this drug, before taking it...but you are both smart cookies....so I'm not gonna challenge you, but I admit I'm curious!
cherrie....how's the shoulders doing????
hmmm....has ssla checked in after her stage 2??? It's been a busy week here, and I'm having trouble remembering who has posted what.
This date will always have some sombre emotions for me, as my sister used to work very close to the WTC and barely made it out on Sept 11. For many hours, we didn't know where or how she was. Thinking of everyone in the States today, and how our world has changed. Hugs to all.....
per usual.....gotta dash.....have good days.
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Hello again,
My Mom made it through the night without any complications. I went to visit her in recovery after I posted the last message and she was in good spirits. She was making jokes that it took so long because they wanted to keep touching her boobs as well as counting down the seconds until she could press her painkiller button again.
Today she is getting a blood transfusion because her hemoglobin was low. Because of this they cannot connect her pain killer tube so she is restricted from using that for 4 hours. She says the pain is not too bad though, and is bearable. My dad said he took a peak at the new breasts and they look good, “not as bad as you would expect” post-surgery. Mom doesn’t want to look yet. She sounded much more lucid today that last night and is still in good spirits.
I will keep you updated
-Sasha
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Sasha, thanks for the update on your mom. Now that it's done she will get better every day. She is lucky to have a supportive daughter like you.
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Nihahi, my heart lurched when I read about your sister. I had no one close to the towers but the deaths of all those innocents still breaks my heart. May God protect us from the pure evil that was put into action that day.
Sasha, thanks for the momma update! I hope she'll be pleasantly surprised when she first views the noobs. When I first saw mine, after having been flat for a year, my brain couldn't process it. "WHAT IS THAT?" My drugged-up self asked. Now I love both of them. They're soft, warm, bouncy, and fit in a bra.
Yes, Nihahi, Metformin is a diabetic drug, but they've noted that it seems to have an effect on breast cancer as well. It sensitizes the body to insulin. Who knows all the complicated molecular pathways involved in cancer, huh? Your point is well-taken, though, I would not want to cause myself harm by participating in a clinical trial.
I've taken the Costco-brand Melatonin for years. Most of the time it's helpful, sometimes, when I'm strung out about some anxiousness, it just won't do it. I would sure give it a try. I think mine is 3 mg, but my internist recommended 6 mg.
Tracy, I hope you feel better throughout the day, and I hope your lovely daughter works through this particular nastiness. What a difficult time in life are our early adolescent years.
I got a flu shot this morning. My arm hurts. Somebody call the waaambulance!
Love you all--Katy
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